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contd. I want to be a freelance model! Social Media
Get
involve in other social media like instagram, tumblr, and youtube to
bring more exposure to you. Use youtube as a great way to document
your journey through the good and the bad. There is more to
networking but these are a great way to start. Keep in mind whenever
you interact with individuals online you are now acting as a
business. Professionals are watching how you interact with others, if
they do not see you as a professional they will not want to work with
you. Be patient success is not going to happen overnight, sometimes
you will have to pay photographers, MUA and other professionals to
take your portfolio to the next level.
One
more final tip, practice facial expressions. Take images from
magazines and practice recreating the facial expression. Five minutes
a day, you will look at the image then look at a mirror replicating
that facial expression. Maintain the facial expression as you look
away from the mirror, relax the face. Recreate the facial expression
and turn to the mirror and see if you captured the expression
correctly. You will be gaining muscle memory in the process; selfies
are a good way to practice.
There
is more information I have on this topic, so stay connected. Also
feel free to comment or ask questions!
You can follow me
on my:
Article
facebook
facebook page
contd. I want to be a freelance model! Facebook Page
5:04:00 PMUnbounded By Words Photography
contd. I want to be a freelance model! Facebook Page
Once
you have received the images, you will select photos you want to put
on your Facebook page. Create a Facebook page, this lets your fans
follow you and not have to add you as a friend on Facebook. You can
choose to go by your name or by a stage name. You will upload your
images there, keep in mind when you upload pictures to your Facebook
page you are telling people these are the photos I want to take. If
you do not like taking lingerie or underwear pictures do not post
them, that way you will have less photographers asking to do a shoot
with you in lingerie. You have control in what you put in your
portfolio and what type of model you want to be. So only put images
that relate to the type of work you want to do. Also make sure only
your best work is put on your page. Great work attract great
photographers, bad work scares great photographers away.
Once
you have some great images in your Facebook page, begin networking
with stylist and other individual from different parts of the
industry ie hairstylist, fashion designers. Go to networking events
for models and photographers; bring with you a comp card. Usually
they are 5 ½ by 8 ½ and have around 4 photos, one of the photos
will be a headshot of you. The back of the card will be your stats,
from your height, hair and eye color, dress or pants size, and shirt
size with your contact information like phone number and email
address. Do not put your home address down.
contd. I want to be a freelance model! Photoshoot
Now
you have a date for the photo-shoot! Make sure you drink plenty of
water throughout the week, and make sure you are well rested the day
before the shoot. Since this is your first shoot, more likely you
will not have a wardrobe stylist. So go through your clothes and try
them on. Make sure they are form fitting, the style is current or
fashion forward. Do not wear clothing that have logos on them, a big
design that is cartoonish. Do not wear clothes that have so many
things going on, unless you are really trained in fashion. If your
wardrobe collection is not going to work then go shopping. You can go
to stores like Marshalls, Ross, and etc to save you money.
After you
have all your clothes picked out make sure they are ironed. Also have
your photo-shoot kit ready. It will consist of clothes pin ,to pin
clothing that needs to be pinned, baby oil (in case you are doing a
shoot that is showing allot of skin), hair brush, comb, hair spray
and your makeup kit in case the MUA goes MIA. Female models should
bring accessories like bangles, earrings, necklaces and etc. Male
models bring watches, neck ties, and hair gel. Go to sleep early!
Day
of the shoot comes, and all of a sudden you do not feel like doing
the shoot. That feeling is very natural, even as photographers we
face this from time to time. As a professional you have to put that
aside and continue with the shoot as planned. One if you do not go it
will come off as unprofessional and rude to the photographer, MUA,
and anyone else who are involved. Two, they will notify their friends
who will happen to be photographers and MUA to not work with you. So
we are going to go the professional route, you will do your normal
routine ritual except we will not put anything on the face no
moisturizer no makeup unless you do not have a MUA.
The
shoot is done, it turned out better than we had hope for, and you
thank everyone for making this day special. The photographer will
tell you when you should start expecting to see pictures. You are
very excited and anxious to see the picture, but do not hound or beat
around the bush to your photographer, or they will get frustrated and
rush through your images. Be patient and genuine, when the deadline
is up, feel free to kindly ask how things are going and when will the
pictures be ready.
Back Continue Reading ---> Facebook Page
I want to be a freelance model! (Networking-Finding a Photographer/MUA Part 2) contd.
Once
you have a photographer, in your niche, on board to shoot with you
then contact the makeup artist and tell them you have a photographer
for the shoot and send them the link to the photographer’s work and
see if they would be interested in collaborating with you on the TF
shoot. If the photographer's work is more impressive then the
pictures of the MUA, then they will more likely do it as a TF.
Sometimes the photographer might be able to get a MUA for you, but
never rely on that being an option. As a freelance model you need to
make sure everything on your end is covered, the only thing that you
should not have to worry about is the camera.
For
male models, you do not have to worry about getting a MUA for a
shoot, unless the photographer stresses for one, not likely. What you
need to do is buy foundation, go to a beauty store and ask for any of
the sales rep to help you find your shade. They will be very excited
to help you. Make sure you get a matte finish; you do not want one
with shimmer. It will be roughly around $60. If you have great skin,
then just get a concealer for dark circles. Very important you ask a
sales rep for help, there are so many different shades and
temperature colors that you will end up with the wrong one.
I want to be a freelance model! (Networking-Finding a Photographer/MUA) contd.
So
now you have your physique the way it needs to be, your skin is
radiant, and your hair is healthy, what now? Let’s start
networking! The best advice I can give you is create a separate
facebook account. You will have fans that will be respectful and fans
that are darn right creepy. You do not want your family members
expose to this or engage in arguments on your professional profile.
Now that you have created a separate facebook account or not, go to
the search option on facebook and search for your local makeup artist
and photographer. Once you have found photographers, look at their
work, if it belongs in a magazine, does not look like the models ex
boyfriend/girlfriend took the picture, and they do shoots that relate
to your niche then add them. For makeup artist you will judge their
work solely on their craft not the quality of the picture. If it
looks like something you can do, do not pursue, unless you happen to
be a great makeup artist. This whole paragraph seems to benefit
females more, but it is still beneficial for male models. Makeup
Artist or MUA have connections with photographers, and could refer
you to other photographers that may be looking for someone like you.
Now
that you have added several photographers and MUAs begin contacting
them. Tell them you like their work, be honest, and that if they ever
need a model to please consider you. As a photographer I like this
approach allot! Models that approach me like this are more likely to
shoot with me for free. Messages I do not like or find to be rude go
like this. “How much do you charge” at first it seems innocent,
it is completely ok if you are willing to pay. The photographer goes
into details about his or her pricing package and then the model says
“I was hoping to do a TF shoot with you” TF meaning free. It
would have been better if they had asked this in the beginning,
instead of having the photographer waste his or her time.
So let say
there is a photographer you really want to shoot TF with, it is fine
to ask “Hi my name is XYZ, I love your work (be honest) and wanted
to see if you would be interested in doing a TF shoot with me?” if
he or she says no, and tells you his or her price and you cannot
afford it, do not respond back with “I don’t pay for photos”.
Instead reply telling them thank you for responding and unfortunately
you are unable to afford to pay for photos, but in the future if they
have a casting that you fit, to please consider you. You are more
likely to be considered and sometimes the photographer will cave in
if they really like your look. Do not do small talks, for example
“How are you doing?...I like your work…. And you go on and on
till you finally ask the real question you wanted to ask. I call it
beating around the bush, you are not the only one that will beat
around the bush, after a photographer receives so many they will
classify you as “those models”. So be respectful of their time.
I want to be a freelance model! (Hair) contd.
The next part of
your body that should get the most attention after your skin is your
hair. Like my friend Michael Ramsey has told me in the past, “Hair
is like tires on a car, put a crappy tire on a very nice car the car
will look crappy, put great tires on a crappy car, the car looks
great” There are hair styles that we love, but understand it has to
fit your face. If you are blessed with a high forehead you do not
want to accent it more with a hairstyle that pulls your hair back. So
when choosing a hairstyle set your preferences to the side and select
the hairstyle that is the best fit for you. If you have a hard time
choosing one, go to a professional hair stylist and discuss it with
them. They will have a better idea of what you should do.
Once
you have the hairstyle you want, keep it for at least a year.
Diversity in hair style sounds great but it can really limit you in
booking clients or with an agency. The client does not want
surprises, so when they see your portfolio full of flavor hairstyle
of the week, they will be very hesitant to hire you. They want to
make sure you show up exactly the way you present yourself in the
picture, not be surprised by a sudden different hairstyle. Female
models have a little more freedom, it is ok to straighten, or curl
it, but do not cut the hair to a different hairstyle.
Maintaining
your hair is very important, keeping your hair it’s natural color
will be an easier route, but if you prefer to dye it, make sure it
stays the same color and your roots are done periodically especially
before a photo-shoot. Never do a shoot with the roots of your hair a
different color then the rest of the hair. Always, like your skin,
apply moisturizer. The thicker the hair the more important it is to
have it moisturize. You will have fewer breakage issues and your hair
will appear healthier. When it comes to dyeing your hair, refrain
from DIY hair dyes that you get from the store, they will damage your
hair especially if you do not know what you are doing. Go to a
professional hairstylist and they will do a great job of getting the
hair color you want and they will make sure it looks natural. Take
care of split ends, females have a natural understanding, but male
models need to start paying more attention to their hair.
Teeth
is simple, go to a dentist. Your body is an investment do not cheap
out on it.
Article
Clyph
freelance model
contd. I want to be a freelance model! Skin
3:27:00 PMUnbounded By Words Photography
I want to be a freelance model! (Skin) contd.
Continuing with the
body, your skin can make or break you. As a freelance model you are
more likely to run into photographers that do not use Photoshop. So
you have to always be prepared. Learn to exfoliate your skin.
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells and exposing a
more radiant healthy skin. There are commercial products you can buy,
or you can go the DIY (Do it yourself) route. One technique I know of
and use, involves using baking soda. You will pour baking soda on the
palm of your hands and apply enough water to create a paste, and then
you will massage it on your face in a circular motion. It will feel
like glass but you will eventually get accustom to it. You do not
have to massage hard to get it to work, be gentle.
The best time to
exfoliate is after a hot shower, that way your pores are open. Do not
wash your face with bar soap. After you have exfoliated your face,
apply moisturizer. It is very important you add moisturizer after you
exfoliate. When you exfoliate it will leave your skin dry, adding
moisturizer is a great way to keep your skin hydrated. One DIY
alternative to buying commercial product is olive oil. Your skin
absorbs or “eats” what you apply on it, which makes Olive oil a
great alternative. It is not as greasy as you may think; however do
not apply it before a shoot or it will come off shiny in the
pictures.
I want to be a
freelance model!
This article will
focus more on freelance models, male or female, but can be very
beneficial for beginner models that do fit agency requirements.
As a freelance model
you will be responsible for your branding, promoting yourself, and
gaining respectable clients. It is possible to make a living as a
freelance model, but it will be quite difficult. Understand these are
my opinion that I have put together from working with many freelance
models that have been successful.
First let’s begin
with the most important part of modeling, your body. How people see
you in person is what they expect to see in the photos they will take
of you. Just like a job interview you have to present your best foot
forward. Before we hit the gym, we need to understand what type of
freelance model we want to be. This is where you focus on what niche
you want to be part of, or create. I am not going to go in detail
about niche, since there are way too many to go into full detail of
each one.
Once you have decided what niche you want to be part of
then we can decide what type of physique we should have, whether we
need to gain more weight, gain muscle definition or lose weight.
There are many helpful sites that you can search on Google that will
help you achieve your goal just make sure it’s a healthy one.
Vlada
Photographer: Clyph Jean-Philippe
MUA: Crystal Lockinour
Assistant: Stan Bryant
I had the great opportunity to work with a Russian model name Vlada. This shoot was one of my favorite shoot I have done with a female model. Vlada is also a fellow artist and has passion for fashion. On our way to the shoot, we stop at a local grocery store and a little girl told her mom "Mom look a super model!" at 5'11 Vlada is on her way to make her impression in the modeling scene.
If you haven't already, you can check out my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unbounded-By-Words-Photography/195450297171159
Kyle
Kyle is an inspiring actor from Florida and is currently going to college. From the first click we had great shots one after the other. He was very natural and knew what to do with his facial expressions. I can say for me, hands down he is my favorite male model I have worked with. He was very laid back, took direction really well and was very humble. Hope you enjoy the pictures from our session. Please feel free to leave a comment
. Ps. No lungs were put in harms way for the production of these shots. :)
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